Now hear this: More people could use hearing aids

Monday

The study by Johns Hopkins researchers Dr. Frank Lin and Dr. Wade Chien showed that, of the estimated 26.7 million Americans age 50 and older with hearing loss, only about 1 in 7 use a hearing aid.

A recent study from Johns Hopkins University indicates aging baby boomers are unlikely to treat hearing loss as a serious health problem.

The study by Johns Hopkins researchers Dr. Frank Lin and Dr. Wade Chien showed that, of the estimated 26.7 million Americans age 50 and older with hearing loss, only about 1 in 7 use a hearing aid.

Lin said major factors leading to this include the cost of hearing devices, failure to receive follow-up training in their use and simply the fact that many consider hearing loss “inevitable or a minor concern.”

But two audiologists in Springfield, Ill., say they don’t see much reluctance in many of their patients.

Audiologist David Groesch of Central Illinois Hearing has 30 years experience working with people dealing with hearing loss. As a baby boomer and hearing aid user, he figured the baby boomer generation would be the hardest to adopt hearing aid use because “they embrace all things youthful and anything age defying,” he said.

But instead of fighting the use of hearing aids as the previous generation did, Groesch said, “I’m finding the absolute reverse to be true. Baby boomers have no reservations, simply because they aid them in their quality of life,” he said.

“This generation, they don’t want anything to stand in the way of enjoying life the way they want to, and hearing loss is one of those things that can stand in their way.”

That being said, Groesch didn’t disagree with the study’s findings that more people could make use of hearing aids.

He said hearing loss is one of the most common health problems affecting people 55 and over, but it’s seldom treated early.

“Hearing loss is invisible. It’s painless. And it’s so gradual. Hearing loss creeps up on you over a period of years,” Groesch said.

If it’s too loud …

Most hearing loss is attributed to three things:

Exposure to dangerously high noise decibels
Genetics — for example, a family history of hearing loss
Aging

But higher noise decibels are a major culprit. For decades, the noise in our lives has only increased. Exposure to higher noise decibels can come from:

Music, ranging from rock concerts to iPods.
Entertainment that includes things like bowling alleys, motor sports and recreational shooting.
Everyday noise, including construction or manufacturing and even doing chores, such as mowing the lawn.

“All of these … create more noise than ever before,” Groesch said.

Audiologist Cassandra Maillet of the Springfield Clinic said damage to the ear from loud noise can occur years before it manifests itself in noticeable hearing loss — and if it’s a sensory neural hearing loss, no surgery or pill can cure it.

That’s why she strongly recommends protection when around loud noise of any sort.

“One way to know if it’s too loud is if it leaves your ears ringing. If so, it’s definitely caused some damage,” she said.

Maillet, who has more than 10 years experience as an audiologist, said she’s not surprised that many people who could use help don’t seek it.

“That’s always been a problem and will continue to be a problem,” she said. But she sees more people being proactive about health problems with so much information available on the Internet. She said people are even able to do hearing screenings via their computer.

“I think we are seeing people coming in earlier instead of waiting. I wouldn’t say there’s more reluctance than the generation before. If anything, the younger generation seems more open,” she said.

Concerns about cost

Both audiologists said part of that openness is also due to newer, sleeker designs for hearing devices and improved clarity.

But what is off-putting, Lin’s study indicates, is the cost. Moderately priced hearing aid devices can cost more than $1,000 for each ear, and most insurance companies don’t cover any part of that expense.

A study done by AARP and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association that was released in December found 57 percent of member respondents with untreated hearing difficulties don’t believe their problems warrant treatment.

The study also showed nearly two-thirds of poll respondents (63 percent) cite health insurance coverage limitations, concerns about cost and lack of health insurance as reasons for not getting treatment for hearing difficulties.

Maillet said research she’s seen indicates that for consumers, insurance coverage for hearing aids is the “No. 1 thing” they’d like to see happen. Neither she nor Groesch saw any indication that prices would decrease.

“I don’t see them going down, but I do see hearing products, and not just the premium products, being better than they used to be,” Maillet said.

Checkup

Have your hearing checked if you have experienced more than a couple of these signs of hearing loss:

You’re tired or stressed from trying to hear.
You believe everybody mumbles.
It’s easier to understand other people when you are looking directly at their faces.
You frequently ask others to repeat themselves.
You keep the TV or radio volume loud enough that others complain.
You can’t understand speech in noisy places such as cars, restaurants, theaters, churches or synagogues.
You make inappropriate responses because you didn’t understand the question.
You can’t hear essential sounds like doorbells, alarm clocks or smoke alarms.
You have trouble hearing on the telephone.
You turn one ear toward a speaker to hear better.